saith the Destroyer let him goe a husband c. here the Chaldee paraphraseth thus had it not beene for the blood of this circumcision my husband must needes have beene killed And it is like that upon this occasion and trouble Zipporah with her children was sent backe againe from hence to her fathers house as appeareth by Exod. 18. 2. 3. Vers. 27. of God that is mount Horeb where the glory of the Lord had beene revealed saith the Chaldee paraphrast See Exod. 3. 1. And now God shewed that mercy to Aaron which after hee rehearsed to Ely one of his posterity 1 Sam. 2. 27. 28. Did not I plainely appeare unto the house of thy father when they were in Egypt c. Vers. 30. Aaron spake as God ordained verse 16. hee that is Moses did as was appointed verse 17. and the signes were those three forementioned vers 3. c. Vers. 31. heard that is hearkened gladly to this joyfull tidings as God foretold Exod. 3. 18. therefore the Greeke translateth it and they rejoyced that the Lord had visited And the Holy Ghost sheweth such force to be in the Hebrew word for when one Prophet saith Ezekias heard or hearkened 2 King 20. 13. another saith Ezekias was glad Esa. 39. 2. visited to wit in mercy the Chaldee saith remembred See Gen. 21. 1. Luk. 1. 68. seene to wit with commiseration as Ex. 3. 7. bended downe the head this was a gesture of humiliation with the face toward the ground as is expressed in 2 Chronicles 20. 18. Exodus 34. 8. bowed themselves or worshipped fell downe prostrate This was another humble gesture used in reverence and thanksgiving as Gen. 24. 26. Exod. 12. 27. 1 Chron. 29. 20. 2 Chron. 29. 30. Nehem. 8. 6. There were also two other gestures of honour kneeling 2 Chron. 6. 13. and bending or bowing of the body 2 Chron. 29. 29. and these three are all mentioned in Psal. 95. 6. They differed one from another the bending of the head was the least and it was the bowing downe of the face onely The bending of the body was when the whole body was bent downeward the face towards the knees Kneeling was upon the knees a gesture commonly knowne Bowing of themselves or worship was with falling downe upon their face on the ground their hands and feet displaied Wherefore that which one Evangelist calleth worshipping Matth. 8. 2. another calleth falling on the face Luk. 5. 12. So the Hebrew cannons also distinguish them saying The bending of the body spoken of in any place is towards the knees the bowing of all the joynts of the backe-bone so that he maketh his body as a bow the bending of the head is with the face or countenance downeward the bowing of ones selfe or worshipping is the displaying of hands and feet till hee bee prostrate with his face on the earth Maimony in Misn. treat of Prayer c. 5. S. 12. 13. Here the Israelites shewed by these gestures their reverence to Gods word and thankfulnesse the Hebrew Doctors as in the Zohar upon this place say that the bending of the head with the face toward the ground was for to escape judgment and the bowing of themselves or worshipping was for to obtaine mercy and that the bending of the head was before the worshipping according to the mysterie of the Sin-offring before the Burnt-offring The order of which sacrifices may be seene in Exod. 29. 14. 18. Lev. 8. 14. 18. and 14. 19. 20. and 15. 15. and 61. 11. 15. 24. CHAP. V. 1 Moses and Aaron doing their message to Pharaoh are resisted and rebuked 5 The Israelites taske increased 14 Their officers beaten 15 Their complaints checked 19 They crie out upon Moses and Aaron 22 Moses complaineth unto God AND afterward Moses and Aaron went in and said unto Pharaoh Thus saith Iehovah the God of Israel Send away my people that they may keepe a feast onto me in the wildernesse And Pharaoh said Who is Iehovah that I should obey his voice to send away Israel I know not Iehovah neither will I send away Israel And they said The God of the Hebrewes hath met with us let us goe wee pray thee three daies journey into the wildernesse and sacrifice unto Iehovah our God left hee fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword And the king of Egypt laid unto them Wherefore doe ye Moses and Aaron cause the people to cease from their workes Get ye to your burthens And Pharaoh said Behold the people of the land now are many and ye make them to rest from their burdens And Pharaoh commanded in that day the taske-masters of the people their officers saying Yee shall not any more give straw to the people to make brickes as heretofore let them goe gather straw for themselves And the tale of the brickes which they did make heretofore you shall lay upon them you shall not diminish ought thereof for they be idle therefore they cry out saying Let us goe and sacrifice to our God Let the work be made heavy upon the men and let them labour therein and let them not regard vaine lying words And the taske-masters of the people went out their officers and said unto the people saying Thus saith Pharaoh I will not give you straw Goe ye take your straw where you can find it yet not ought of your worke shall bee diminished And the people was scattered abroad thorow all the land of Egypt to gather stubble in stead of straw And the taske-masters hasted them saying Fulfill your workes every daies taske in his day as when there was straw And the officers of the sonnes of Israel which Pharaohs taske-masters had set over them were beaten saying Wherefore have yee not fulfilled your appointed taske to make bricke both yesterday and to day as heretofore And the officers of the sonnes of Israel came and cried out unto Pharaoh saying Wherefore doest thou thus to thy servants There is no straw given unto thy servants and they say to us make brickes and behold thy servants are beaten and it is the sinne of thy people And he said ye are idle ye are idle therefore yee say let us goe and sacrifice to Iehovah Now therfore goe worke for straw shall not be given you yet shall ye deliver the tale of brickes And the officers of the sonnes of Israel did see them in evill saying Ye shall not minish ought from your brickes every daies taske in his day And they lighted upon Moses and Aaron standing to meet with them as they came forth from Pharaoh And they said unto them Iehovah looke upon you and judge because you have made our savour to stinke in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants to give a sword into their hand to slay us And Moses returned unto Iehovah and said Lord wherefore hast thou done evill to this people wherefore is it that thou hast sent me For since I came to Pharaoh to speake in thy name
such a garment as was bound to have the Fringe that he might keepe this commandement and in the time of prayer he is to be warned hereof more especially It is a great shame for wise men that they should pray and not be arraied herewith A man must for ever be warned of this commandement of the Fringe for the Scripture maketh it of great weight and all the commandements every one depend upon it Maim in Zizith ch 3. sect 11 12. But they abused this as other divine ordinaÌ„ces to superstitioÌ„ hypocrisie were reproved by our Saviour for making their Phylacteries broad inlarging the borders or Fringes of their garments Mat. 23. 5. And this their vanitie neglecting the spirituall end appeareth in their writings for unto the thrums or threeds of the garment w ch were three inches they fastned threeds doubled in the midst whose length they say might not be lesse than foure inches but more than so they might be though a cubit or two cu 〈…〉 Maim in Zizith ch 1. s. 6. And for the vertue hereof they say Who so diligently keepeth this Law of Fringes is made worthy and shall see the face of the Majestic of God Baal hatturini on Num. 15. and when a man is cloathed with the Fringe and g 〈…〉 out therewith to the doore of his habitation hee is safe and God rejoyceth and the destroying Angell departeth from thence and the man shall be delivered from all hurt and from all destruction c. R. Menachem on Num. 15. Thus easie it is for men to abuse holy things and to pervert the right use and end of them by their owne inventions See the annotations on Exod. 13. 9. And although they 〈◊〉 so great religion in these Fringes yet as they have lost the spirit and life of this commandement so God hath deprived them of the outward riâ—e that they have not at this day by their owne confession the blew or heaven-coloured ribband The blew Teceleth is not found in our hands at this day because we know not to make the die or colouâ— of it for every blew in wooll is not called Teceleth But the Teceleth or Blew spoken of in the Law it is knowne that it is unpossible to make it at this day and therefore we make the white oâ—ely saith Rambam or Maimony in his exposition on Talmud Bab. in Menachoth ch 4. and that ye seeke not or and ye shall not seeke or search as Num. 14. 36. which word Solomon applieth to his heart searching out things by wisdome Eccles. 1. 13. and 7. 25. The Greeke here translateth it turne aside the Chaldee erre or goe astray your heart in Chaldee the imagination of your heart Here God calleth men from their owne wisdome and inventions to his Law onely for every imagination of the thoughts of mans heart is onely evill every day Gen. 6. 5. And he that trusteth in his owne heart is a foole Prov. 28. 26. your eyes in Chaldee the sight of your eyes So the holy Ghost saith Walke in the wayes of thine heart and in the sight of thine eyes but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement Eccles. 11. 9. And the Apostle mentioneth the lust of the eyes as that which is not of the Father but of the world 1 Iohn 2. 16. The Hebrewes say The heart and the eyes are the spies of the body and brokers to bring it into transgression the eye feeth and the heart lusteth and the bodie acteth the transgression Sol. Iarchi on Num. 15. The Lord condemning the heart which is the most noble of all the inward parts and the eyes which are the most excellent of all the outward teacheth that the whole man is corrupted thorowout and to be reformed by the Law and Spirit of God For except a man be borne of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdome of God Iohn 3. 5. you goe a whoring in Chaldee you orre or goe astray To goe a whoring after other gods is an usuall phrase for idolatrie Exod. 34. 15. Deut. 31. 16. 1 Chrâ— 5. 25. Iudg. 2. 17. the same is implied here as God saith I am broken with their whorish heart which hath departed from me and with their eyes which goe a whoring after their idols Ezek. 6. 9. but it meaneth also all other sinnes which mens uncleane hearts and impure eyes carry them unto with consent and delight see Lev. 20. 5 6. Psal. 106. 39. Iam. 4. 4. The Hebrewes say If any man be drawne after the thoughts of his heart he will be found a waster of the world because of the slendernesse or shortnesse of his understanding As sometimes he will search after idolatrie and sometimes will thinke peculiarly of the Creator whether there be any or none What is above and what beneath what was before and what shall be after And sometimes of prophesie whether it be truth or no and sometimes of the Law whether it be from heaven or no. And hee knoweth â—â—t what to judge of them till he know the truth concerning his Creator but will be found a revolter unto heresies Concerning this thing is that warning in the Law where it is said And ye shall not seeke after your heart and after your eyes after which ye goe a whoring Num. 15. 39. as if he should say there shall not any one of you be drawne after his owne slender understanding or knowledge as to imagine that his cogitation can attaine to the truth so have our wise men said AFTER YOVR HEART this meaneth heresies and AFTER YOVR EYES this is whoredome And this is an occasion for a man to deprive himselfe of the world or life that is to come Maimony treat of Idolatrie ch 2. sect 3. CHAP. XVI 1 Korah Dathan Abiram and On with 250 Princes rise up against Moses and Aaron about the Priesthood and government of the Church 5 Moses referreth the triall of the cause unto God and reproveth Korahs ambition 12 He sendeth for Dathan and Abiram who reproach him and will not come up 15 He prayeth against them 16 and gathereth Korah and his company with their censers before the Tabernacle 20 The Lord threatneth to consume the rebels and commandeth the people to separate from them 31 The earth swalloweth up Dathan Abiram and all Korahs men and a fire from the Lord devoureth the 250 that burned incense 36 The censers are reserved to cover the altar for a signe unto Israel 41 All the congregation murmure against Moses and Aaron as they that bad killed the Lords people 44 The Lord killeth 14700 of them with a plague 46 Aaron by incense stayeth the plague 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ANd Korah the sonne of Izhar the son of Kohath the sonne of Levi he tooke men and Dathan and Abiram the sonnes of Eliab and On the sonne of Peleth sonnes of Reuben And they rose up before Moses and men of the sonnes of Israel two hundred and fiftie
errour of Balaam and the contradiction or rebellion of Kore wherein they perish Iude verse 11. The Chaldee translateth it and will make knowne him that is fit for him and who is holâ— or and the holy one that is him whom hee hath sanctified and separated unto the Priests office So David speaking of this rebellion calleth Aaron the holy one or Saint of Iehovah Psal. 106. 16. and he wore on the golden plate this ingraving Holinesâ—e to Iehovah Exod. 28. 36. for he figured our high Priest Christ who was holy harmlesse undefiled separate from sinners made higher than the heavens Heb. 7. 26. and who glorified not himselfe to be made an high Priest but had the honor given him of his Father Heb. 5. 5 6. and Korahs rebellion against Aaron was a type of mens rebellion against Christ as the Apostles have taught us The Greeke translateth as before plurally saying and the holy ones he hath brought neere unto himselfe cause to come neere or bring neere to wit to minister unto him as the Chaldee interpreteth it And this honor of Priesthood given now unto all Saints who are to offer up spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God by Iesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 5. is commended by David when he saith Blessed is he whom thou choosest and causest to come neere unto thee that he may dwell in thy courts Ps. 65. 5. Which bringing neere or accesse we all have through Christ by one spirit unto the Father with confidence by the faith of him Ephes. 2. 18. and 3. 12. This latter part of the verse is by the Greeke interpreted thus And these whom hee hath not chosen to himselfe he hath not brought neere unto himselfe Verse 6. censers or fire vessels as the Greeke translateth it fire pans whereof see Exod. 27. 3. called sometime incense-vessels because incense was burnt in them 2 Chron. 26. 19. Ezek. 8. 11. which name the Apostle followeth in the Greeke Hebr. 9. 4. Verse 7. put ye fire Hebr. give ye fire and put incense doth choose or shall choose that is declare by manifest signe that hee chooseth and liketh he shall be holy that is shall be declared to be holy and so to be a Priest unto God Because the burning of incense in the censer was the meanes of atonement and expiation before God as after is shewed by Aarons iâ—ct in verse 46 47 48. and was the peculiar worke of the Priest Levit. 16. 12 13. 2 Chron. 26. 18. wherein they that transgressed were in danger of death as the example of Nadab and Abihu sheweth Lev. 10. and it figured in speciall manner the prayers and mediation of Christ for his Church Psal. 141. 2. Rev. 8. 3. 1 Iohn 2. 1. therefore the triall of the Priesthood is put upon this worke rather than on any other sacrifice and the holinesse whereof Korath boasted verse 3. should either be approved or reproved of God For no man hath right to the honour of Priesthood unlesse it be given him of God Hebr. 5. 4 5. nor can without divine authoritie that is without the commandement and promise of God please him or appease his wrath towards himselfe or others Therefore it is a great prerogative and comfort unto all Saints that they are by Christ made Priests unto God and through him may boldly offer up their prayers and praises unto the Father Revel 1. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 5. Hebr. 13. 15. 1 Iohn 5. 14 16. yee take too much upon you or Let it suffice you that you have thus farre provoked the Lord and now leave off Thus Moses returneth the blame upon themselves which they had unjustly laid upon him in verse 3. So Elias doth upon Achab 1 Kings 18. 17 18. Verse 9. Is it a small thing or Seemeth it too little for you meaning on the contrary that it was a great thing and that they should therewith have beene contented for the Tribe of Levi were in the place of all the first-borne of Israel Num. 3. 41. So here he reproveth their unthankfulnesse to God separated you from the congregation as Israel was separated from all other peoples to be the Lords peculiar Lev. 20. 26. 1 Kings 8. 53. so were the Levites separated from the sonnes of Israel to be the Lords Num. 8. 14. And hereupon the Scripture speaketh of the Levites as distinct from the Israelites 1 Chron. 9. 2. Psal. 135. 19 20. So the Mâ—nisters of Christ are said to be separated unto the Gospell of God Rom. 1. 1. Gal. 1. 15. Acts 13. 2. the service of the Tabernacle the workes belonging to the service of God therein being assistants to the Priests see Num. 8. 11 15 16. and 18. 21. 23. to stand before the congregation standâ—ng is a signe of service and used for it as the Scripture in one place saith which stood before the King Ierem. 52. 112. and in another a servant of the King 2 King 25. 8. Whereupon the standing of the Levites is used for their service in Nehem. 12. 44. and as they were to stand before the Lord to minister unto him Deut. 10. 8. so here it is said to stand before the congregation to minister unto them thus they were servants of God and of his Church as Iosiah said unto them Serve now the Lord your God and his people Israel 2 Chron. 35. 3. See also â—zek 44. 11. Verse 10. the Priesthood in Chaldee the high-Priesthood in Greeke to doe the Priests Office That was in degree above the Levites who were to minister unto the Priests but not to come nigh the Altar as did the Priests Num. 18. 2. 3. For the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service of the Tabernacle of the house of God but Aaron and his sonnes offered on the Altar of Burnt-offering and on the Altar of incense and were for all the worke of the most holy place and to make atonement for Israel 1 Chron. 6. 48 49. And Aaron was separated to wit from the other Levites that he should sanctifie the most holy things hee and his sonnes for ever to burne incense before the Lord to minister unto him and to blesse in his Name for ever 1 Chron. 23. 13. To usurpe affect or seeked this office of Priest-hood without the calling of God was a great sinne against divine order and authoritie severely punished here in Korah and his company in King Vzziah 2 Chron. 26. 19. 21. and others Verse 11. against Iehovah because it was against his ordinance and minister it is said to be against the Lord himselfe So when the people refused Samuels government God said They have not rejected thee but they have rejected me that I should not reigne over them 1 Sam. 87. and Christ said to his ministers He that heareth you heareth me and hee that despiseth you despiseth me and hee that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me Luke 10. 16. Iohn 13.
inheritances by the name of Lets as Come up with me into my lot Iudg. 1. 3. And not lands onely but whatsoever befalleth unto men frō the hand of God is called a lot as This is the portion of them that spoile us and the lot of them that rob us Esay 17. 14. and Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter Act. 8. 21. and That they may receive forgivenesse of sins and a lot that is inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith c. Act. 26. 18. The part of the lot that is of the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1. 12. So that in the Greek used by the Apostles Cleros a lot and Cleronomia a division by lot is the common name of an inheritance 1 Pet. 5. 3. Ephes. 1. 14. 18. Vers. 56. According to the lot Hebr. At or Vpon the mouth of the lot as the lot whereon the name of the tribe or of the inheritance is written shall speake This lot being of the Lord figured the diversities of gifts in the Church which the Spirit of God divideth to every man severally 〈◊〉 will 1 Cor. 12. 4. 11. as also the dispensation of his graces concerning our heavenly inheritance which the Election onely obtaineth that the purpose of God according to election might stand not of workes but of him that calleth Rom. 11. 7. and 9. 11. Vers. 57. of the Levites who though they had no inheritance in the land vers 62. yet were they to have 48 cities and their suburbs for their habitation Num. 35. which also fell unto them by lot Ios. 21. 4. c. Vers. 58. Korachites or Korhites of Korah the sonne of Izhar the sonne of Kohath the sonne of Levi Num. 16. 1. Korah himselfe died in the rebellion but his sonnes died not Num. 26. 11. therefore they are reckoned here for a familie in the fourth generation from Levi which is one degree further than the other families And whereas in Exod. 6. 16. c. there are reckoned of Gershon two sonnes Libni and Shimei here the familie of the Libnites is mustered but Shimei left out There Kohath hath foure sonnes Amram and Ishar and Hebron and Vzziel here Vzziel is omitted neither is Ishar named but in his sonnes the Korhites Vers. 59. she bare to Levi by she understand Levies wise or Iochebeds mother Sol. Iarchi expoundeth it his wise bare her in Egypt she bare to Amram that is Iochebed Amrams wife who was also his aunt bare to Amram Exo. 6. 20. Marie Hebr. Mirjam she was a prophetesse see Exod. 15. 20. Num. 12. 1. Vers. 60. unto Aaron was borne Here Moses children Gershon and Eliezer are againe omitted see the notes on Num. 3. 38. Vers. 61. and Abihu died and they had no sonnes Num. 3. 4. See the historie in Levit. 10. Vers. 62. 23 thousand who at the former numbring were but 22 thousand Num. 3. 39. So they increased in the wildernesse a thousand males Vers. 65. dying they shall die i. they shall surely die this was threatned for their rebellion refusing to go into the promised land Nū 14. and the fulfilling of Gods judgment is here shewed and Iosoua in Greeke Iesus the son of Naue these two survived because they faithfully followed the Lord Num. 14. 24. 38. See the Annotations there In that all the rest were dead save these two it sheweth that all the 600 thousand men now mustered which should conquer Canaan were a valiant company betweene 20 and 60 yeares of age none being above 60 but Caleb and Iosua and as they were in body so in minde being trained up these 38 yeares in the study of the Law and ordinances of God and beholding his workes having Moses and Aaron for their leaders and Gods good spirit for their instructer Neh. 9. 20. CHAP. XXVII 1 The daughters of Zelophehad sue for an inheritance 5 Moses bringeth their cause before the Lord who granteth their request 8 The Law of inheritances when a man dieth without a son 12 Moses is bidden goe up and see the land and is told of his death for his trespasse 15 He requesteth of the Lord that a man may be set governour in his place 18 The Lord appointeth Iosua to succeed him 22 And Moses by imposition of hands ordaineth him to his office THen came the daughters of Zelophehad the sonne of Hepher the son of Gilead the son of Machir the son of Manasses of the families of Manasses the son of Ioseph and these are the names of his daughters Machlah Noah Hoglah and Milcah and Tirzah And they stood before Moses and before Eleazar the Priest and before the Princes and all the congregation at the doore of the Tent of the Congregation saying Our father died in the wildernesse and he was not among the Congregation of them that gathered themselves together against Iehovah in the congregation of Korah but in his sinne he died and hee had no sonnes Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family because he hath no sonne Give unto us a possession among the brethren of our father And Moses brought their cause before Iehovah And Iehovah said unto Moses saying The daughters of Zelophehad speake right giving thou shalt give them a possession of an inheritance among the brethren of their father and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to passe unto them And thou shalt speake unto the sonnes of Israel saying If a man die and he have no sonne then ye shall cause his inheritance to passe unto his daughter And if hee have no daughter then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren And if he have no brethren then ye shall give his inheritance unto the brethren of his father And if his father have no brethren then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his familie and he shall inherit it it shal be unto the sonnes of Israel for a statute of judgement as Iehovah commanded Moses And Iehovah said unto Moses Go thou up into this mountaine of Abarim and see the land w ch I have given to the sons of Israel And thou shalt see it and thou also shalt be gathered unto thy peoples as Aaron thy brother was gathered For ye rebelled against my mouth in the wildernesse of Zin in the strife of the congregation to sanctifie me at the water before their eyes that is the water of Meribah of Kadesh in the wildernesse of Zin And Moses spake unto Iehovah saying Let Iehovah the God of the spirits of all flesh set a man over the congregation Which may go out before them and which may go in before them and which may lead them out and which may bring them in that the congregation of Iehovah be not as sheep which have no shepherd And Iehovah said unto Moses Take unto thee Iosua the son of Nun a man in whom is the spirit and lay thine hand upon him And cause
of the Canaanite and Lebanon unto the great River the river Euphrates Behold I have given the land before you goe in and possesse the land which Iehovah sware unto your fathers to Abraham to Isaac and to Iakob to give unto them and to their seed after them And I spake unto you at that time saying I am not able my selfe alone to beare you Iehovah your God hath multiplied you and behold you are this day as the Starres of the heavens for multitude Iehovah God of your fathers adde unto you a thousand times so many as you are and blesse you as hee hath spoken unto you How shall I beare my selfe alone your cumbrance and your burden and your strife Give yee for you wise men and understanding and knowne among your tribes and I will appoint them for to be your heads And yee answered me and said The word which thou hast spoken is good to doe And I tooke the heads of your tribes wise men and knowne and gave them to be heads over you rulers of thousands and rulers of hundreds and rulers of fifties and rulers of tens and officers among your tribes And I commanded your Iudges at that time saying Heare between your brethren and judge justice betweene a man and his brother and his stranger Yee shall not respect persons in judgement you shall heare alike the small and the great you shall not be afraid of the face of man for the judgment that is Gods and the cause which shall bee too hard for you bring it unto mee and I will heare it And I commanded you at that time all the things which yee should doe And we journeyed from Horeb and went thorow all that great and fearfull wildernesse which you have seene by the way of the mountaine of the Amorites as Iehovah our God commanded us and wee came unto Kadesh Barnea And I said unto you Yee are come unto the mountaine of the Amorites which Iehovah our God giveth unto us Behold Iehovah thy God hath given the land before thee goe up possesse it as Iehovah the God of thy Fathers hath spoken unto thee feare not neither be discouraged And ye came near unto me all of you and said We will send men before us and they shall search out for us the land and shall bring us word againe by what way wee shall goe up and into what Cities we shall come And the word was good in mine eies and I tooke of you twelve men one man of a tribe And they turned went up into the mountaine and came unto the valley of Eshcol and they searched it out And they tooke in their hand of the fruit of the land and brought it downe unto us and brought us word againe and said It is a good land which Iehovah our God giveth us But ye would not goe up but rebelled against the mouth of Iehovah your God And murmured in your Tents and said In the hatred of Iehovah towards us he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt to give us into the hand of the Amorite to destroy us Whither goe we up Our brethren have caused our heart to melt saying The people is greater and taller than wee the Cities are great and walled up to heaven and moreover wee have seene the sonnes of the Anakims there And I said unto you Bee not terrified neither be afraid of them Iehovah your God that goeth before you he will fight for you according to all that hee did for you in Egypt before your eyes And in the wildernesse which thou hast seene how that Iehovah thy God bare thee as a man doth bear his sonne in all the way that ye went untill yee came unto this place Yet in this thing you did not beleeve in Iehovah your God Who went before you in the way to search you out a place to pitch your tents in in fire by night to shew you by what way ye should goe and in a cloud by day And Iehovah heard the voice of your words and was wroth and sware saying If there shall a man see of these men of this evill generation the good land which I sware to give unto your fathers Except Caleb the sonne of Iephunneh hee shall see it and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon and to his sonnes because he hath fully followed Iehovah Also Iehovah was angrie with mee for your sakes saying Thou also shalt not goe in thither Ioshua the son of Nun which standeth before thee hee shall goe in thither strengthen thou him for hee shall cause Israel to inherit it And your little ones which you said should bee for a prey and your sons which know not this day good and evill they shall goe in thither and unto them will I give it and they shall possesse it But as for you turne ye and take your journey into the wildernesse by the way of the red sea And yee answered and said unto mee wee have sinned against Iehovah wee will goe up and fight according to all that Iehovah our God hath commanded us and ye girded on every man his weapons of war and pressed forward to go up into the mountaine And Iehovah said unto me Say unto them Goe not up neither fight for I am not among you that yee be not smitten before your enemies And I spake unto you and you heard not but rebelled against the mouth of Iehovah and you were presumptuous and went up into the mountain And the Amorite that dwelleth in that mountain came out against you and they pursued you as Bees doe and destroyed you in Seir even unto Hormah And yee returned and wept before Iehovah but Iehovah heard not your voyce neither gave eare unto you And yee abode in Kadesh many daies according to the daies that ye abode there Annotations DEuteronomie A Greeke word by interpretation The repetition or second declaration of the Law This name is borrowed from Deut. 17. 18. where Mishneh hatorah the Copie of the Law is in Greeke translated Deuteronomion which title is given to the whole booke as that which containeth a repetition and explanation of the Lawes before given as v. 5. The Ebrews call this booke by the first words thereof ELLEH HADBARIM THESE be THE WORDS And here beginneth the 44 Section or Lecture of the Law see the notes on Gen. 6. 9. Vers. 1. On this side or on the out side that is beyond Iordan as the Greeke translateth The word signifieth both sides and by circumstance of place is to be understood To those out of the land of Canaan it was on this side to the Israelites in Canaan it was beyond or the out side of Iordan where Moses spake these things For Moses might not enter into the land Here Thargum Ierusalemy whom Onkelos the Chaldee Paraphrast also followeth explaineth it thus These bee the words which Moses spake unto all Israel hee rebuked them for that they had sinned on this side Iordan
the Philistines in the southern parts of the Land of Canaan Gen. 10. 19. Hither Isaak came afterward to so journe for famine Gen. 26. 1. Vers. 2. of Sarah the Hebrew el which properly signifieth unto is used for of or concerning and is so translated by the Greeke here and Ier. 27. 19. and so the Greeke pros in like manner Heb. 1. 7. and 4. 13. Or if we reade it unto Sarah the meaning is that together with her both he and she said it as after in vers 5. is manifested See the like done before in Gen. 12. 11. 12. 13. Vers. 2. Abimelech by interpretation Father-King a common title of the Kings of Palestina as Phar 〈…〉 was of the Kings of Aegypt see Gen. 26. 1. Psal 34. 1. For Kings should beo Fathers to their countries so rulers are casled fathers 2 King 5. 13. Iob 〈◊〉 16. and 1 Sam. 1â— 15. where your fathers is translated in Greeke your King see Gen. 4. 20. Vers. 3 God came the Chaldee saith word came from the face of God This serteth forth Gods care for his he suffered â—o man to doe them wrong but reproved Kings for then sakes Psal. 165. 14. a dream which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—on that the mind of man conce 〈…〉 〈◊〉 isle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 natural arising from the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the body or affections of the mind are many and have their vanities and deceits Eccles. 5. 7. Esay 29. 7. 8. But dreames supernaturall sent of God as here or by his Angels as Mat. 2. 13. are to bee regarded for God by them signifieth what he would or what men should doe Gen. 41. 25. Iob 33. 14. 15. 16. c. Dreames also are sometimes by the lying spirit of Satan which are not to bee beleeved or regarded Zach. 10. 2. Deut. 13. 1. 2. 3. See also Gen. 37. 5. a dead man that is shalt surely dye But under such threats conditions often are implyed as here if thou deliver not the woman See Ezek. 33. 14. 15. Vers. 4. come-neere that is lyen with her being stayed by sicknesse as it seemeth by verse 17. the Greeke saith touched her not the Hebrew also in verse 6. So Paul useth the phrase of touching a woman 1 Cor. 7. 1. and Solomon Prov. 6. 29. just nation fearing as it seemeth wrath upon his people also vers 9. as often commeth to passe for the Princes sinnes So for Davids sinne a plague came on his people 1 Chron. 21. 14. 17. Or hee calleth his family a nation which was now visited of God vers 17. 18. Vers. 5. perfection or integrity simplicy sincerity The Chaldee interprets it truth the Greeke a pure heart It is opposed to hypocrisie innocence of my hands or cleannesse of my palmes the palmes of the hands are named as wherein filthinesse might be hidden so purging himselfe even from secret crime Vers. 6. with-held the Greeke translateth spared thee It seemeth Gods chastisement restiained him vers 17. and so hee was not able to doe the evill which otherwise naturally hee could and was proneunto from sinning the Greeke saith that thou shouldst not sinne As God for Abrahams sake with held Abimelech from the fact so respecting the integrity of the Kings hearr hee kept him also from the sinne gave thee not that is let or suffered thee not as the Greeke translateth Giving is often used for suffering as Gen. 31. 7. Exod. 3. 19. Psal. 16. 10. but it is more then bare sufferance as implying an action also on Gods part who giveth meanes to stay from evill or sendeth delusions when so it pleaseth him as 2 Thess. 2. 7. Vers. 7. a Prophet therefore doe him no harme Psal. 105. 15. A Prophet in Hebrew Nabi in Greek Prophetes from which we have the word Prophet so named of speaking interpreting or uttering words and oracles that come from God Deut. 18. 15. 16. 18. as of seeing or receiving them by visions such were named Seers 1 Sam. 9. 9. So Moses interpreter is called his Prophet Exod. 7. 1. and all interpreters of the Scriptures 1 Cor. 14. 29. In speciall a Prophet was one indued with the Spirit of God and could foretell things to come Deut. 18. 22. Psalm 74. 9. Ier. 29. 15. Such are called holy men of God which spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 20. The Hebrew Doctors say It is one of the foundations of the Law to know that God maketh the sonnes of men to prophesie and prophesie resideth not but in a man that is great in wisedome mighty in his vertuous qualities so that his affections overcome him not in any worldly thing but by his knowledge he overcommeth his affections continually and he is a man expert in knowledge and of a very large vnderstanding c. On such a man the holy spirit commeth downe and when the spirit resteth upon him his soule is associated unto the Angels and he is changed to another man and perceiveth in his owne knowledge that hee is not so as he was but that hee is advanced above the degrees of other wise men even as it is said of Saul in 1 Sam. 10. 6. and thou shalt prophesie with them and shalt be turned into another man Maimony in Iesudei hatorah ch 7. S. 1. shall pray This was a speciall worke of the Prophets to pray for the people Ier. 14. 11. and 15. 1. whereupon it is said If they bee Prophets and if the word of the Lord be with them let them intreat the Lord c. Ier. 27. 18. Praying or interpellation hath the first signification of judging and so meaneth the presenting of the person and cause of any unto God as the judge and the judging of ones selfe live thou that is thou shalt live but it is a powerfull manner of speech wherupon God is said to command his mercy and the salvation and blessing of his people Psal. 42. 9. and 44. 5. and 133. 3. The like is often used as Amos 5. 4. seeke me and live that is yee shall live and dwell for ever Psal. 37. 27. dying that is shalt surely die see Gen. 2. 17. Vers. 9. that should not the Chaldee translateth that are not meet to be done the Greeke saith which none should doe Vers. 11. Surely or Onely The Greeke translateth Lest there be not the feare of God so making it an unperfect speech implying doubt as in Mat. 25. 9. By the feare of the Lord men depart from evill Prov. 16. 6. Vers. 12. of my father The Iewes opinion from hence is that Sarah was the same that Iseah mentioned in Gen. 11. 29. and had two names and that she being the grandchild of Thara by another woman then Abrahams mother is so spoken of here became Hebr. was to me for a wife Vers. 13. they euen God Aelohim the name of God in forme plurall is usually joyned with a word singular as hee created Gen. 1. 1. here and in some few other places it is coupled with a word plurall â—no without
the spiritually Egyptians by whose sinne the third part of the sea became blood and of other waters became wormewood Revel 8. 8. 11. there be the like plagues from the phials or cups of Gods Angels as are here by the rod of Gods messengers their sea rivers and fountaines becomming blood they having shed the blood of Saints and Prophets and God giving them blood to drinke for they are worthy Revel 16. 3. 6. Of this plague the Psalmist also speaketh Psal. 78. 44. and 105. 29. Contrariwise God blesseth his people by turning for them the rockes to rivers and fountaines of waters Psal. 78. 15. 16. and 114. 8. and giving them the water of life to drinke Ioh. 4. 10. 14. Rev. 22. 1. 17. Vers. 21. died so in Antichrists sea every living soule dyeth Revel 16. 3. as by their impietie they had caused the third part of such to dye before Revel 8. 9. Contrariwise in the holy land corrupt waters are healed the creatures in them live and fish are multiplied Ezek. 47. 8. 9. stunke whereas the waters of Egypt served them for drinke Ierm 2. 18. there being no raine in the Countrey Deut. 11. 10. 11. God turning them to stinking blood and killing the fish the plague was the more grievous For fishes were their common food Numb 11. 5. the flesh of many beasts they through superstition would not eate of Exodus 8. 26. so that which the Prophet after threatneth was now upon them The fishers mourned and all they that cast angle into the brookes lamented and they that spread nets upon waters languished Esay 19. 8. Vers. 22. did so as before in verse 11. They could by inchantments increase their owne plagues but not ease themselves see Exodus 8. 7. 8. But where had they water to turne into blood either they found some by digging about the river verse 24. or they had some fetched from another place as Gosen see the notes on v. 18. wexed strongs the Greeke saith was hardened see verse 13. Vers. 23. set not that is regarded not nor cared for this wondrous plague so the setting of the heart signifieth carefull regard Exod. 9. 21. Prov. 22. 17. 2 Sam. 18. 3. CHAP. VIII 1 God threatneth Pharaoh if hee send not Israel away to plague his Realme with frogges 5 Aaron stretcheth out his hand and the second plague frogs come out of the waters over all the land 7 The Magicians doe the like 8 Pharaoh sueth to Moses 12 And Moses by praier removeth the frogs away 15 Pharaohs heart is hardned 16 The third plague dust is turned into lice on man and beast 18 The magicians could not doe so yet Pharaoh is hardned 20 God threatneth the fourth plague swarmes of flies upon the Egyptians 22 exempting Israel in Goshen 24 The land is corrupted with the swarmes 25 Pharaoh inclineth to let the people goe 30 Moses by praier removeth the swarmes away 32 Pharaoh is bardned againe AND Iehovah said unto Moses Goe in unto Pharaoh and say unto him thus saith Iehovah send away my people that they may serve me And if thou refuse to send them away behold I smite all thy border with frogs And the river shall abundantly bring forth frogs and they shall come up and enter into thy house and into thy bedchamber and upon thy bed and into the house of thy servants and upon thy people and into thy ovens and into thy troughs of dough And the frogs shall come up upon thee and upon thy people and upon all thy servants And Iehovah sayd unto Moses Say unto Aaron stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streames over the rivers and over the ponds cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt And the Magicians did so with their inchantments and caused frogges to come up upon the land of Egypt And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron and said Intreat ye Iehovah that he may take the frogs from me and from my people and I will send away the people that they may sacrifice unto Iehovah And Moses said unto Pharaoh Glorie over me when I shall intreat for thee and for thy servants and for thy people to cut off the frogs from thee and from thy houses onely in the river they shall remaine And he said to morrow and he said be it according to thy word that thou maist know that there is none like Iehovah our God And the frogs shall depart from thee and from thy houses and from thy servants and from thy people onely in the river they shall remaine And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh and Moses cryed unto Iehovah because of the frogs which he had put upon Pharaoh And Iehovah did according to the word of Moses and the frogs dyed out of the houses out of the villages and out of the fields And they gathered them together upon heapes and the land stanke And Pharaoh saw that there was a breathing and he made his heart heavy and hearkened not unto them euen as Iehovah had spoken And Iehovah sayd unto Moses Say unto Aaron stretch out thy rod and smite the dust of the land and it shall be turned to lice in all the land of Egypt And they did so and Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and smote the dust of the land and there were lice on man and on beast all the dust of the land was lice in all the land of Egypt And the Magicians did so with their inchantments to bring forth lice but they could not and there were lice on man and on beast And the Magicians sayd unto Pharaoh This is the finger of God and Pharaohs heart waxed strong and he hearkned not unto them even as Iehovah had spoken And Iehovah said unto Moses Rise up earely in the morning stand before Pharaoh lo◠〈◊〉 commeth forth to the waters and say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him thus saith Iehovah Send away my people that they may serve mee Else if thou wilt not send away my people behold I will send a mixed swarme upon thee and upon thy servants and upon thy people and into thy houses and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of the mixed swarme and also the ground where on they art And I will marvellously sever in that day the land of Go 〈…〉 upon which my people standethy that there shall 〈◊〉 mixed 〈◊〉 there to th◠〈◊〉 maist 〈…〉 that I am Iehovah in the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 And I will put a 〈◊〉 de 〈…〉 people and 〈◊〉 by people 〈…〉 all 〈…〉 be And Iehova◠did 〈…〉 there came a heavie 〈…〉 I the house of Pharaoh and the house of 〈…〉 into all the land of Egypt 〈◊〉 land was corrupted by reason 〈…〉 Pharaoh 〈…〉 and sayd 〈…〉 the land And Moses said 〈…〉 to doe 〈…〉 shall 〈…〉 shall 〈…〉 of the Egypt 〈…〉 〈…〉 not 〈◊〉 us We will goe three dayes
and then the owner of the asse might use it for his own service which otherwise he might not doe Deut. 15. 19. breake the necke or cut off the necke as the word is translated in Deut. 21. 4. and Esay 66. 3 where it is spoken of a dog The Ierusalemy paraphrast here expoundeth it kill it redeeme for five shekels of money Num. 18. 16. And by the Hebrew Doctors the father when hee redeemed his sonne was to blesse God who gave this commandement and preserved his sonnes life And if the father transgressed and redeemed not his son he was when he came to age to redeeme himselfe Maimony treat of First fruits chap. 11. S. 2. 5. See the annotations on Num. 18. Hereby was figured the redemption of Gods elect the Church of the first-borne which are written in heaven Heb. 12. 23. from the second death for in respect of the first death no man can give any ransome to God Psal. 49. 8. 9. Heb. 9. 27. Vers. 14. to morrow that is in time to come see the notes on Gen. 30. 33. The Greeke translateth hereafter elsewhere the Greeke keepeth the Hebrew phrase as in Deut. 6. 20. Ios. 4. 6. 21. us out the things done to the fathers are to be remembred as if they were done to the children so the Prophets explaine things as Psalm 66. 6. they passed through the river on foot there did we rejoyce in him and Hos. 12. 4. he found him in Bethel and there be stroke with us So the Hebrew Canons say Thorowout all generations a man is bound to shew himselfe as if it were he himselfe that came now out from the bondage of Egypt as it is written AND HE BROVGHT VS OVT c. and for this cause the holy blessed GOD hath commanded in the Law AND THOâ— SHALT REMEMBER THAT THOV WAST A SERVANT Deut. 15. 5. as if he should say As they so thou thy selfe wast a servant and camest out free and wast redeemed Maimony treat of Leven chap. 7. S. 6. The Apostle speaking of the things that befell Israel saith these things were our examples 1 Cor. 10. 6. and the Rabbines have a common saying Whatsoever happened to the fathers is a signe nuto the children R. Menachem on Gen. 12. Verse 15. was hard to send us that is was stubborn refusing to send us away Or hardned himselfe against sending us away so that hee would not let vs goe The Hebrew word which commonly signifieth to is sometime used for from as is noted on Gen. 36. 6. and so here Pharaoh hardned his heart from sending that is he would not send In 2 Chr. 11. 4. it is said they returned from going whereas in 1 King 12. 24. it is written they returned to goe Compare both for phrase and matter that in Iob 9. 4. who hath hardned himselfe against God and hath prospered the males or being males and this the Iewes understand of males simply for if it be a female or both male and female they hold it free from this service not holy at all Maimony treat of the First borne chap. 2. S. 5. Verse 16. phylacteries or frontlets in Hebrew Totaphoth typicall monuments called in verse 9. 4 memoriall the Greeke translateth them an unmoveable monument the Hebrew Doctors usually call them Tephillin prayer monuments because they used to binde them upon them when they prayed as is noted on verse 9. The Syriacke in Matt. 23. 5 keepeth that name but the Euangelist in Greeke nameth them phylacteries of conserving or keeping the memoriall of Gods Law whom wee follow in this translation So in Deut. 6. 8. and 11. 18. See the annotations there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here beginneth the 16 Section of the Law see Gen. 6. 9. and 28. 10. Vers. 17. the way of that is towards the land so in Num. 14. 25. the way of the red sea is towards it Or by the way as in the verse here following see warre that is be warred against by the Philistines who would deny them passage for they had before this killed some of the Israelites whiles they dwelt in Egypt in the dayes of Ephraim son of Ioseph as is mentioned in 1 Chron. 7. 21 22 23. Thus God provided for his peoples infirmity lest at the first they should bee discouraged and would not suffer them to be tempted above that they were able 1 Cor. 10. 13. So in his Law he ordained that no fearfull or faint-hearted should goe to warre Deuteron 20. 8. See also the notes on Genesis 11. 31. Vers. 18. went up it is the usuall phrase in the Scripture to call the journeying from Egypt to Canaan which was northward a going up as here and in Gen. 13. 1. and 44. 17. and often On the contrary from Canaan into Egypt they are said to goe dâ—â—â—e Gen. 12. 10. and 26. 2. Deut. 10. 22. Act. 7. 15. and usually harnessed or marshalled by five in a ranke the word in Hebrew hath the name of five either of the harnesse girded under the fift ribbe as the Chaldee translateth it girded or of marching five in a row The Greeke version saith in the fift generation but not well for Israell went out in the fourth generation as God foretold Gen. 15. 16. and this word is elsewhere used for armed or harnessed as Ios. 1. 14. and 4. 12. Iudg. 7. 11. Thus God led out his people with an high hand Exodus 14. 8. and trained them for future warres to conquer Canaan See Numb 1. 3. and 14. 3. 9. c. Vers. 19. swearing sworne or as the Greeke hath it sworne with an oath that is straitly and earnestly adjured Of this see Gen. 50. 25. Vers. 20. Succoth the place of Boothes see Exod. 12. 37. Etham in Greeke Othom Of this and their other journeyes see Numb 33. 6. c. the edge or the end that is which Etham was in the end or edge of the wildernesse Numb 33. 6. The Greeke translateth by the wildernesse Vers. 21. Iehovah called in Exodus 14. 19. the Angell of God meaning Christ whom the Israelites tempted in the wildernesse 1 Cor. 10. 9. he is named Iehovah our justice Ierem. 23. 6. went before them that is as the Greeke expoundeth it guided them pillar which in Hebrew is named of standing up or stabilitie and is by similitude here applyed to the cloud and fire that stood over the host of Israel as elsewhere smoake arising is called a pillar Iudg. 20. 40. and pillars of smoake Ioel 2. 30. are by the Apostle called vapour of smoake Act. 2. 19. In Psalm 105. 39. this cloud is said to bee spread for a covering so that it shadowed them from the heat of the Sunne and in it they were baptised 1 Corinth 10. 2. and as there was occasion it removed sometime before sometime behind them Exodus 14. 19. and in it God sometime appeared and spake Deut. 31. 15. Psal. 99. 7. but the ordinary use of it was to lead and to cover them Numb 9. 17. 18.
their service Num. 4. 3. And also because there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inheritance given them among the sonnes of Israel Num. 26. 62. but the Lord was their inheritance Deut. 10. 8 9. Now to be numbred apart and not with others signified some speciall favour towards such and care over them as Num. 23. 9. Aaron Aaron the elder brother of Moses and 〈◊〉 Levites therefore their names are mentioned here V. 3. he filled that is consecrated or perfected 〈◊〉 the Greeke translateth See the annotations on Exâ—â— 29. 9. and Levit. 8. V. 4. dyed by a fire from the Lord Levit. 10. 1 2. This is mentioned againe in Num. 26. 61. 1 Chron. 24. 1 2. had no sonnes the Hebrewes as Chazkuni upon this place say if they had had sonnes those sonnes had beene before Eleazar and Ithamar for whosoever is fore-most in inheritance is foremost for honour or dignitie in the sight of Aaron or before the face that is whiles Aaron lived as before the face of Tharah Gen. 11. 38. is while Tharah lived before the Moone and Sunne Psal. 72. 5. 17. is whiles they continue to give light The Greeke translateth With Aaron Elsewhere it is said by the hand of Aaron 1 Chron. 24. 19. Of these two there were so many Priests in Davids dayes that he distributed them into 24. courses sixteene of Eleazar and eight of Ithamar 1 Chron. 24. 3. 4. The Hebrew Doctors say Moses divided the Priests into eight wards or courses foure of Eleazar and foure of Ithamar and so they were untill the Prophet Samuels dayes Then Samuel and David the King parted them into 24. courses And over every course or ward there was one chiefe Provost And they went up to Ierusalem to serve by course every weeke And every sabbath day they changed one course went out and the next after them came in c. Maimony tom 3. treat of the Instruments of the Sanctuarie chapt 4. sect 3. Compare 1 Chron. 9. 22. 25. 2 King 11. 5. 7. V. 6. present it or cause it to stand speaking of the tribe In Greeke present them V. 7. his charge Hebr. his custody or obseruation that is that which he commandeth them to obserue See this phrase in Lev. 18. 30. 〈…〉 of all the congregation the Greeke explaineth it of the sonnes of Israel as in v. 8. So 〈◊〉 2 Chron. 35. 3. serve the Lord your God and his people Israel It meaneth also such things as they were charged to keepe but the Levites now were taken in their stead 〈…〉 to serve the service in Greeke to worke or doe the workes of the Tabernacle which in Num. 8. 11. is said to serve the service of the Lord. After in the 8. verse the Greeke translateth according to all the workes of the Tabernacle The Hebrewes write thus The sâ—ed of Levi are all of them separated for the service of the Sanctuarie And it is commanded that the Levites be prepared and readie for the service of the Sanctuarie whether they be willing or not willing as in Num. 18. 23. And the Levite he shall serve the service of the Tent of the congregation And the sonne of Levi which will take upon him all the Levites commandements saving one thing they receive him not in till he take all upon him Maimony treat of the Instruments of the Sanct. chap. 3. sect 1. V. 9. are given are given that is as the Greeke here and Moses himselfe in Num. 18. 6. explaineth it are a gift given oâ— they are wholly given So the Ministers of the Gospell are called gifts Ephes. 4. 8. 11. 〈…〉 unto him for his helpe in the charge and worke of the Sanctuarie they ministring unto him and he and his sonnes ministring before the Tabernacle Num. 18. 2. 6. V. 11. shalt appoint or constitute set in office as Bishops or Overseers The Greeke explaineth it thou shalt constitute over the Tabernacle of Testimonie their Priests office for every thing of the Altar and within the veile Num. 18. 7. the stranger that is whosoeuer is not of Aarons seed as is explained in Num. 16. 40. for no man taketh the honour unto himselfe but he that is called of God as was Aaron Hebr. 5. 4. So Chazkuni here expoundeth stranger to be Israelite or Levite that commeth neere to minister And Maimony in Biath hamikdash chap. 9. sect 1. saith Who is the stranger Whosoever is not of the seed of Aaron the males And after God himselfe forbiddeth the Levites to come night he vessels of the Sanctuarie and the Altar on paine of death Numb 18. 3. put to death by the magistrate or by the hand of God as was Korah for presuming to doe the Priests office Numb 16. V. 12. every first-borne which before the Levites were taken in their stead did minister to the Lord as is noted on Exod. 24. 5. And upon what occasion God tooke the Levites instead of the first-borne is to be seene in Exod. 32. 26. 29. Deut. 33. 9. shall be mine to minister before me as the Chaldee expoundeth it V. 13. I smote in Chaldee I killed see Exod. 12. 29 30. The Lord having slaine all the first-borne of Egypt and spared the Israelites did therefore challenge for his owne and sanctifie to him-selfe all Israels first-borne Exod. 13. 2. but tooke the Levites and their cattle in stead of Israels first-borne men and cattle Num. 3. 45. and gave them as a gift to Aaron to minister unto him Who being in his Priesthood a type of Christ all these rites are in him fulfilled For unto Christ God gave children Hebr. 2. 13. and they are a congregation of first-borne written in heaven Hebr. 12. 23. being of Gods owne will begotten by the word of truth that they should be a kinde of first-fruits of his creatures Iam. 1. 18. to whom he also giveth the first-fruits of his Spirit Rom. 8. 23. These wait on and follow the Lambe Christ being bought from among men and first-fruits unto God and to the Lambe Rev. 14. 4. These were brought for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations and of them the Lord hath taken for Priests and for Levites Esai 66. 20 21. and Christ hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father that we may serve him day and night in his Temple Rev. 1. 6. and 7. 15. V. 15. Muster or Number Hebr. Visit. This was done by Moses and Aaron v. 39. and by the Princes of the congregation Num. 4. 34. though here the commandement is directed unto Moses onely house in Greeke houses old Heb. sonne of a moneth Tho cause why the Levites were numbred from this age was for that they came in place of the first-borne of Israel whose redemption is appointed from a moneth old Num. 18. 15 16. And they were counted after the houses of their fathers not of their mothers for if a woman of Levi were maried to a man of Iudah or any other tribe her sonne was not a Levite The Hebrew canons say
them foure wagons according unto their service for to ease the cariage Num. 7. 5. 8. Vers. 38. foremost or as the Greeke translateth it Eastward see Num. 2. 3. Moses and Aaron The Hebrewes as Baal hatturim vpon this place doe observe that here is a pause or distinction betweene Moses and Aaron to teach that Moses pitched in one place by himselfe and Aaron and his sonnes in another place by themselves Thus Moses a Levite of Kohath was King in Ieshurun Deut. 33. 5. and Aaron his brother Priest as for Moses two sonnes Gershon and Eliezer Exod. 18. 3 4. here is no mention of them neither in Num. 26. neither had they any prerogative but were among the other Kohathites and named of the tribe of Levi that is common Levites 1 Chron. 24. 14. the charge or the custodie the watch of the Sanctuarie the Levites being assistants under them Num. 18. 2 3. Of the watch which was wont to be kept in the Sanctuary see the annotations on Num. 15. 8. the stranger that is any saving Aaron and his sonnes see verse 10. Vers. 39. and Aaron in the Hebrew there are many extraordinary pricks over the name of Aaron for speciall cause R. Sol. Iarchi saith they were to signifie that Aaron himselfe was not among the number of the Levites none of the 22000. here mentioned Observe Aarons dignitie Hee was the elder brother unto Moses the King Exod. 7. 7. Hee was by mariage brother to Naasson Prince of Iudah for hee had to wife Elisabeth his sister Exod. 6. 23. Hee was joyned with Moses in the government of Israel Psal. 77. 20. He had the prerogative to sacrifice for the whole Church 1 Chron. 23. 13. But Christ our King and Priest after the order of Melchisedek farre excelleth him Hâ—b 7. and 8. chap. two and twentie thousand This summe accordeth not with the former particulars for there were of Gershon 7500. of Kohath 8600. of Merari 6200. which make in all 22. thousand and three hundred But Aaron and the Priests as also the first-borne of the Levites were the Lords after a peculiar manner Exod. 13. 2. and therefore deducted from the rest which were all taken in stead of the first-borne of Israel So there were so many thousand Levites as there are Hebrew letters because they were aboue others to apply the studie of Gods Law Deut. 33. 10. which because they did not according to their dutie God so disposed that Iehozadak the Priest in the 22. generation after Aaron was caried captive with the people into Babylon 1 Chron. 6. 3. 15. And here againe Gods providence appeareth that the Levites increase should be by just thousands and the Priests and first-borne of Levi by hundreds without any broken number such as was among the first-borne of Israel vers 43. See the notes on Num. 1. 25. Againe whereas the least of all the other tribes of Israel from twenty yeeres old and upward had 32000. and 200. Num. 1. v. 34 35. and the greatest 54000. and 600. v. 27. here the Levites which were counted from a moneth old and upward were but 22000. so the Lords portion was the least Yea of these 22. thousand there were found but eight thousand five hundred and fourescore that were fit for to doe service in the Sanctuary Num. 4. 47 48. so small was the number of those that served God in his ministerie in comparison with the campes of Israel Vers. 40. Muster or Number moneth old Hebr. sonne of a moneth Vers. 41. for me or unto me as the Chaldee expounds it thou shalt bring neere the Levites before me every first-borne or all the first-borne which being appointed unto the Lords service the Lord taketh the Levites to serve him in their stead This was for the first-borne males of man and beast which the Israelites now had all the first-borne that came after this were to be redeemed or given to the Priest Num. 18. 15. See the notes on verse 12. and 13. Vers. 43. and seventie and three God 's speciall providence appeareth againe in this number of the first-borne that it should be so neere unto the number of the Levites taken in their stead whom God destinated from the womb unto his service and made the summes of them so neere A like worke of God is observed by Moses in Deut. 32. 8. how he had appointed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sonnes of Israel And whereas six hundred thousand men and moe Num. 1. 46. had but 22. thousand and 273. first-borne males in all their families it appeareth that the farre greater number of Israels first-borne were females who by reason of their sex were not fit to serve God in his sanctuary Which figured the small number of Gods elect among the many that are called Mat. 22. 14. Rom. 9. 6 7 8. For the elect are such as doe serve God day and night in his Temple Revel 7. 15. and are Priests unto God Rev. 5. 10. Vers. 45. shall be mine which the Chaldee explaineth shall minister before me Vers. 46. those that are to be redeemed Hebr. And the redeemed or as the Greeke translateth it And the redemptions or ransomes So after in vers 48 49 51. Here the overplus of the first-borne of man is reckoned and the summe of their ransome vers 50. but the overplus of cattle is not reckoned Vers. 47. five shekels a peece Heb. five five shekels which the Greeke translateth five shekels by the head These five shekels the price set here and in Num. 18. 16. was the value set in Lev. 27. 6. from a moneth old to five yeeres old and it was the least of all the valuations so that God burdened the Israelites with the ransomes as little as might be twentie geraâ—s or twentie pence the gerah was a peece of silver that weighed sixteene barley graines so the shekel weighed 320. graines see the notes on Exod. 30. 13. Vers. 48. the money Hebr. the silver so in vers 49 50 51. of the redeemed understand the money of those that are redeemed or as the Greeke translateth the redemptions of those that are moe Vers. 50. Of the first-borne in Hebrew Bâ—chor the First-borne is singular as spoken of one but translated in Greeke plurally as implying all And this seemeth to be taken not of particular persons as of them that were last numbred or any other for so the burden should have lien vnequally upon a few but of the church in generall Or to cut off contention it was done by lot as R. Solomon Iarchi saith he brought 22000. scrolles or papers according to the number of the Levites vers 39. and on every of them was written A son of Levi and 273. papers according to the number of the First-borne Israelites moe than the Levites vers 46. and on every of them was written Five shekels they mingled them and put them in a basket then said he unto them come draw your papers according to your lot Vers. 51.
of Israel to doe the Passeover And they did the Passeover in the first moneth in the fourteenth day of the moneth betweene the two evenings in the Wildernesse of Sinai according to all that Iehovah commanded Moses so did the sonnes of Israel And there were men who were uncleane by the soule of a man that they could not 〈◊〉 the Passeover in that day and they caâ—â— neere before Moses and before Aaron 〈◊〉 that day And those men said unto him Wee are uncleane by the soule of a man wherefore are we kept backe that wee 〈◊〉 not offer the oblation of Iehovah in his appointed season among the sonnes of Israâ—â— And Moses said unto them Stand still and I will heare what Iehovah will command concerning you And Iehovah spake unto Moses saying Speake unto the sonnes of Israel saying Any man when he shall be uncleane by a soule or be in a journey a farre off of you or of your generations yet he shall doe the Passeover unto Iehovah In the second moneth in the fourteenth day betweene the two evenings they shall doe it with unleavened cakes and bitter herbs shall they eat it They shall not let ought remaine of it untill the morning and they shall not breake a bone thereof according to every statute of the Passeover they shall do it But the man that is cleane and is not in a journey and forbeareth to doo the Passeover even that soule shall be cut off from his peoples because he offered not the oblation of Iehovah in his appointed season that man shall beare his sinne And if a stranger shall so journe with you and will doe the Passeover unto Iehovah according to the statute of the Passeover and according to the judgement thereof so shall he doe ye shall have one statute both for the stranger and for the home-borne of the land And in the day that the Tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the Tabernacle even the Tent of the Testimony and in the evening there was upon the Tabernacle as the appearance of fire untill the morning So it was continually the cloud covered it and the appearance of fire by night And when the cloud was taken up from off the Tent then after that the sonnes of Israel journeyed and in the place where the cloud abode there encamped the sonnes of Israel At the mouth of Iehovah the sonnes of Israel journeyed and at the mouth of Iehovah they encamped all the dayes that the cloud abode upon the Tabernacle they encamped And when the cloud tarried long upon the Tabernacle many dayes then the sonnes of Israel kept the charge of Iehovah and journied not And it was when the cloud was a few dayes upon the Tabernacle according to the mouth of Iehovah they encamped and according to the mouth of Iehovah they journeyed And it was when the cloud was from evening untill morning and the cloud was taken up in the morning then they journeyed either by day or by night when the cloud was taken up then they journeyed Or two dayes or a moneth or a yeare of dayes when the cloud tarried long upon the Tabernacle abiding upon it the sonnes of Israel encamped and journeyed not but when it was taken up they iourneyed At the mouth of Iehovah they encamped and at the mouth of Iehovah they journeyed they kept the charge of Iehovah at the mouth of Iehovah by the hand of Moses Annotations IN the first moneth This Commandement to keepe the Passeover was in time before the numbring and ordering of the tribes mentioned in the former part of this booke for that was commanded in the first day of the second moneth Num. 1. 1 2. Whereupon the Hebrewes as Sol. Iarchi here doe observe that there is no order of former and latter in the Law but things done after are sometimes ser before The reason why it is mentioned here is because of the second Passeover kept the 14 day of the second moneth verse 11. which was after the foresaid master after the dedication of the Altar ordination of the Levites And the cause why God commanded them to keepe the Passeover in the Wildernesse was for that by the first institution they were bound to keepe it when they were come into the land of Canaan Exod. 12. 25. and therefore without speciall warrant they would not have kept it in the desert neither kept they any moâ— but this till they came into the land Ios. 5. Verse 3. doc the Passeover that is keepe offer or sacrifice the Passeover called in Hebrew Pesach in Greeke Pascha so named because the Lord when he smote all the first-borne in the houses of the Egyptians passed over the houses of the Israelites whose doore-posts were sprinkled with the lambs blood and slew not their first-borne Hereupon the Lord appointed a yearely feast in remembrance thereof which should continue till Christ came who is our Passeover or Paschal Lambe sacrificed for us in whom we keepe the feast in spirit and truth 1 Cor. 5. 7 8. See the annotations on Exod. 12. in his appointed season every fourteenth day of the first moneth as verse 3. which the Greeke here calleth the houre thereof and in verse 3. the season thereof and the Hebrewes explaine it though it be on the Sabbath So all the feasts in Israel were to be kept at the times appointed of God Levit. 23. 4 c. Therefore Ieroboam keeping the feast of Tabernacles in the eighth moneth which God had appointed in the seventh Levit. 23. 34. it is said to be the moneth which he had devised of his owne heart 1 Kings 12. 32. 33. Verse 3. betweene the two evenings that is in the afternoone Sol. Iarchi on Exod. 12. saith from the sixt houre which is at mid-day and upward it is called betweene the two evenings for that the Sunne declineth towards his going downe c. betweene the evening of the day and the evening of the night the evening of the day is in the beginning of the seventh houre and the evening of the night is when the night beginneth See the notes on Exod. 12. 6. where the houres of killing the Passeover are observed It figured the time of Christs comming in these last dayes Heb. 〈◊〉 1 2. as towards the evening of the world and the houre of his death which was the ninth houre that is three a clocke in the afternoone Matth. 27. 46-50 all the statutes that is all the rites and ordinances prescribed which the Greeke translateth the Law thereof So in Exod. 12. 43. where it is shewed who were to eat the Passeover the judgements this the Hebrewes referre to the unleavened cakes which were to be eaten with it and seven dayes after also to the putting away of Leaven c. Exod. 12. 8. 15 c. But here are to be accepted the speciall rites which belonged onely to the first Passeover in Egypt as the sprinkling of their posts with blood the eating of it standing c.
fourteene thousand and seuen hundred beside them that died about the matter of Korah And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the doore of the Tent of the congregation and the plague was stayed Annotations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here beginneth the 38 Lecture of the Law which the Hebrewes call Korah because his rebellion is the principall thing here treated of see Gen. 6. 9. VErse 1. Korah or Korach in Greeke Kore Iude ver 11. Izhar in Greeke Isaar Kohath in Greeke Kaath he tooke to wit men with him so Korah is noted as the principall in the rebellion which the Apostle therefore calleth the gaine-saying of Kore Iude verse 11. and in Num. 27. 3. onely Korahs company is mentioned where speech is of this mutinie The Greeke translateth he spake to signifie that he tooke others by perswading them to his faction The Chaldee understands it of taking that is withdrawing of himselfe saying And Korah separated himselfe Thus Sol. Iarchi also expoundeth it he tooke him-selfe aside to be apart from the congregation and Dathan and Abiram this may be understood that they also tooke men and separated themselves or rather that Kore tooke these men unto him and so to reade it he tooke Dathan and Abiram or he tooke both Dathan and Abiram for the word and in Hebrew may sometime be omitted in our English speech as is shewed on Gen. 8. 6. or be interpreted both as explaining the former words see the annotations on Gen. 36. 24. And thus Chazkuni expoundeth it And Korah tooke it meaneth the taking of men and whom tooke he Dathan and Abiram c. AND before DATHAN is redundant here as often elsewhere Abiram in Greeke Abâ—iron Eliab in Greeke Eliam hee was son to Phallu the sonne of Reuben Num. 26. 7 8 9. Gen. 46. 9. On in Greeke Ann and Aunan Peleth in Greeke Phaleth sonnes of Reuben Dathan Abiram and On were all sonnes that is of the posteritie of Reuben who was the first-borne of Israel but lost his honour by his sinne 1 Chron. 5. 1. which his sonnes by unlawfull meanes seeke to recover And these Reubenites camped next unto Korah and the Kohathites on the Southside of the Tabernacie as is shewed in Num. 2. and so being neighbours in situation associated themselves in evill which Sol. Iarchi observing saith thereupon Woe be to the wicked and woe unto his neighbour Korah being a Levite of the Kohathites which was the chiefe familie of the Levites as is noted on Num. 3. 28. he tooke offence as Iarchi on this place saith and envied at the preferment of Elizaphan the sonne of Vzziel whom Moses had made Prince over the sonnes of Kohath Num. 3. 30. when he was of the youngest brother Vzziell and Korah himselfe was of Izhar elder than he see Num. 3. 27. 30. But by the sequell here it appeareth that the lift up himselfe not onely against Elizaphan but against Moses and Aaron and sought the Priesthood also verse 10. Verse 2. and men that is Korah and men as appeareth by verse 5. 16 17. where these are called Korahs congregation the called of the assembly Senators called to the assemblie and as the Greeke translateth it councell of the governours in Chap. 1. 16. such are named the called of the congregation and in Chap. 26. 9. Dathan and Abiram are named the called of the congregation who strove against Moses c. so these were States-men famous and renowned whereby the conspiracie was the stronger men of name that is of renowne this title is given to the Giants before the Flood Gen. 6. 4. Whereupon Baal hatturim here noteth Men of name for wisedome and for wealth and they condemned themselves as did the generation of the Flood which were of old men of name Verse 3. Ye take too much upon you or Let it suffice you as this phrase is translated in Deut. 3. 26. Hebr. much to you or enough for you which Sol. Iarchi expoundeth thus yee have taken to your selves greatnesse much more than enough So after in verse 7. holy and therefore may approach unto God and offer their sacrifices This they meant as Moses answer sheweth in verse 5. and 10. So the presumption of their owne holinesse brought them to ambition and affectation of the Priesthood an honour which no man should take to himselfe but he that is called of God as was Aaron Hebr. 5. 4. Iehovah is in Chaldee the divine presence or Majestie of the LORD dwelleth among them Verse 4. fell on his face as affected with their words humbling himselfe and in likelihood praying unto God as in verse 22. Chazkuni saith He was abashed and cast downe his face on the ground unto prayer and there it was said unto him of God what he should say unto Korah Like gesture he used at their former murmuring Num. 14. 5. and after in Num. 20. 6. Verse 5. Even in the morning or the morning shall come and Iehovah will make knowne c. Iudgement is deferred till the morrow morning so they had that time to consider of their fact and the morning is usually the time of judgement both by men as In the mornings I will suppresse all the wicked of the land Psal. 101. 8. Iudge judgement in the morning Ier. 21. 12. and by God himselfe as Morning by morning doth he bring his judgement to light Zeph. 3. 5. and my rebuke is in the mornings Psal. 73. 14. So in the morning judgement came upon Sodome Gen. 19. 23 24. and the plagues or Egypt Exod. 7. 15. and 8. 20. and 9. 13. and 10. 1â— and the pestilence on Israel 2 Sam. 24. 15. and so shall evill come upon sinners and they shall not know the morning thereof Esai 47. 11. Boker the morning is derived of Baker he inquired or looked out whereupon the Greeke Interpreters reading without vowels translated it The Lord hath looked out and knowne those that are his but the Chaldee saith in the morning theÌ„ the LORD wil make known c. make knowne him or make knowne those that are his so the Greeke translateth knoweth or hath knowne those that are his which very words Paul from this history applieth to Gods knowledge care and love of his Elect whom he sanctifieth and keepeth from falling away as did certaine heretiks in those dayes 2 Tim. 2. 17 18 19 20. This therefore is a speech of faith whereby Moses testifieth his confidence in God who had separated Aaron unto the Priesthood and himselfe unto the government in Israel and would maintaine their cause and calling against all opposers And because these two offices figured the grace given by Christ unto his Elect whom he hath made Kings and Priests even a kingly Priesthood and an holy Nation Revel 1. 6. and 5. 10. 1 Pet. 2. 9. therefore the Apostle in 2 Tim. 2. fitly citeth these words for the comfort of the Saints faithfull ministers of Christ against revolters even as an other Apostle applieth also against such the way of Kain the
fire were in their hand and they divided themselves into two companies one company went Eastward and another Westward and they searched and went thorow all the court-yard till both companies came to the place where they madâ— the Priests Meat-offering spoken of in Levit. 6. 20. 21. When both sides came thither they said Peace all is peace and they set those that made the Meat-offering to make the same After this order did they every night save the nights of the Sabbath for then they had not fire torches in their hand but searched with the lamps that were lighted there on the evening of the Sabbath Maimony Tom. 3. in Beth habchirah ch 8. no servent wrath any more for transgressing as in former time when servent wrath went out from the Lord Num. 16. 46. See also Num. 8. 19. Vers. 6. I have taken in stead of all the first-born of Israel who otherwise should have ministred unto me see Num 3. 12. and the annotations there a gift for Iehovah or unto Iehovah as the Greeke saith to the Lord the Chaldee before the LORD See Num. 3. 9. 12. and 8. 13 16 19. where they were offered unto the Lord and given unto him and by him given unto Aaron Vers. 7. within the veile not onely the second veile as it is called in Heb. 9. 3. but the first veile within which the Priests went alwayes accomplishing the services Heb. 9. 6. as to burne incense Luk. 1. 9. to trim the lamps Exod. 27. 20 21. to set on the Shew-bread every Sabbath Lev. 24. 8. 9. and the like I have given Hebr. I will givâ— which form of speech noteth a continuance of the gift a service of gift a service freely given you which Sol. Iarchi and Chazkuni explaine thus I have given it unto you by gift that none should say ye are come into it of your selves the stranger any Israelite Levite or whosoever is not of Aarons seed see the notes on Num. 3. 10. Vers. 8. I have given after the office of the Priests and Levites prescribed God here provideth for their maintenance and livelihood which they should have from the people for their service The equitie whereof remaineth perpetuall as the Apostle observeth saying Doe ye not know that they which minister about holy things eat of the things of the Temple and they which wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospell should live of the Gospell 1 Cor. 9. 13 14. the charge Hebr. the keeping or observation of mine heave-offerings which the Greeke translateth the keeping of my first-fruits in Chaldee the keeping of my separated things They are said to be a charge or keeping because they were carefully to be taken and used holily as gifts from the Lord. Sol. Iarchi explaineth it which thou must keepe in cleannesse or puritie Therefore they are called holy things and were to be eaten some of them in the holy place and by cleane persons onely a sin v. 9 10 11 c. And in the Hebrew Canons it is said It is unlawfull to defile the heave-offering or first-fruits of the land of Israel like as other holy things or to bring it into the estate of uncleannesse but it is to be eaten being cleane and to be burnt if it be uncleane Maimony tom 3. in Trumoth 6. 12. s. 1. of all the holy things or with all the holy things as Chazkuni here explaineth it see the notes on Num. 5. 9. The Greeke translateth of all things sanctified unto me by the sons of Israel for the anointing that is for the office sake whereunto thou art anointed that as thou art consecrated with the holy oile to attend upon mine holy things Lev. 21. 10 12. so thou shalt have mine holy things to keep and live upon Thus anointing is also used in Lev. 7. 35. This is the anointing of Aaron and the anointing of his sons For this cause the nation of the Iewes was cursed with a curse as having robbed God because they kepâ— backe their tithes and offerings which they should have brought into the store-house that there might have beene meat in the house of God for his ministers Mal. 3. 8 9 10. Vers. 9. of the holy of holies Heb. of the holinesse of holinesses that is of the most holy things which the Greeke translateth of the hallowed or sanctified holy things Some oblations in the Sanctuarie are called holy and by the Hebrew Doctors light holy things some holy of holies that is most holy things of which difference see the annotations on Lev. 6. 17. With these he here beginneth which the Priests onely were to eat and that within the Sanctuarie vers 10. then hee proceedeth to the light holy things which the Priests and their families were to eat within the campe and in ages following within the wals of Ierusalem last of all he speaketh of other gifts which were common and might be eaten by any and in any place verse 14. c. from the fire in Chaldee left or remaining from the fire meaning the fire of the Altar where some part of the most holy things were burned to the Lord. every oblation This may be understood â—s the generall and the Meat-offering Sin-offering c. as the particulars thereof or if it be meant of things different it may be referred to those oblations appointed for the Congregation in Levit. 23. 17 20. Thus Iarchi here explaineth it the Peace-offerings of the congregation And there were no Peace-offerings of the Congregation but onely those mentioned in Levit. 23. as is noted on Lev. 4. 14. and 23. 19. But Chazkuni understandeth it of the two loaves in Levit. 23. 17. and of the Shew-bread saying What oblation is this Wee find afterward the Sin-offering to be expressed and after that the Trespasse-offering which were holy of holies If we understand it of the Burnt offering that was not eaten if of the Peace-offerings they were not holy of holies Behold he speaketh not but of the two loaves Levit. 23. and of the Shew-bread Now both these were most holy and for the Priests onely to eat as is shewed on Lev. 23. 20. and 24. 9. Meat-offering the remainder wherof was most holy for the Priests onely to eat in the holy place by the Law in Lev. 6. 16 17. Sin-offering which the Priests were to eat also in the holy place as in Lev. 6. 26. Trespasse-offering which likewise was most holy and for the Priests onely to eat as the Law sheweth in Lev. 7. 16. which they shall render or shall returne shall restore unto me This may be referred to the sacrifice forementioned and by reason of this word reâ—â—â— or restore and for that the Greeke translateth iâ— whatsoever things they shall render to mee it may in speciall be understood of that ram of atonem 〈…〉 which was given for a Trespasse-offering when 〈◊〉 man restored unto the Lord the thing which hee had robbed according
his perverse way and withall discovereth the vanity of his art who being a diviner could not presage the evill that should befall him though such things as these happened in his way which in the opinion of vaine men are signes of ill lucke and therefore by the grounds of his owne craft should have turned him backe or made him to suspect at least that his journey should be unfortunate see 1 Sam. 6. 2 3. 9. But God taketh the wise in their owne craftinesse and the counsell of the froward is carried headlong they meet with darknesse in the day time and grope in the noone day as in the night But he saveth the poore from the sword from their mouth and from the hand of the mighty Iob 5. 13 14 15. The children of God have the Angels to keepe them in all their wayes and to beare them up lest they dash their foot against a stone Pâ—alm 91. 11 12. But Balaam tempting the Lord hath his Angell to withstand him whereby his foot is crushed against the wall yet maketh he no good use thereof Vers. 26. no way to turne aside In this carriage of the Angell the Lord would have us see the proceeding of his judgements against sinners first more mildly shaking his rod at them but letting them goe untouched then comming neerer hee toucheth them with an easie correction as it were wringing their foot against a wall but bringeth them at last to such a strait as they can no way escape his hand but must fall before him Vers. 27. Balaams anger was kindled the wrath of man worketh not the righteousnesse of God Iam. 1. 20. but a furious man aboundeth in transgression Prov. 29. 22. Balaam learned no good by this strange carriage of his beast but is more inraged and smiteth it not knowing that by meanes of it his owne life was saved vers 33. This foolishnesse of the Prophet the dumbe beast reproveth vers 28. c. and in him God would let us see the nature of wicked men which make no good use of his works neither see his providence in the creatures the service whereof he lendeth unto them Vers. 28. opened the mouth of the Asse that the dumbe asse spake with mans voyce 2 Pet. 2. 16. by wich miracle the Prophet had not onely a rebuke but a cause of feare and astonishment yet hardned he himselfe against it also and pleaded for to maintaine his folly vers 29. so no workes signes or miracles are able to change the hardnesse of mans heart but grace from God onely Iohn 12. 37 38. And here we may observe how the deuill to draw into sinne chose the Serpent for his instrument the most subtill beast of the field Gen. 3. 1. but God to rebuke and convince the wicked useth the Asse the most silly of all beasts shewing as in a figure how Satans continuall practise is to corrupt mens mindes from the simplicitie that is in Christ by deceitfull workers by the sleight of men and cunning craftinesse wherby they lie in wait to deceive 2 Cor. 11. 3. 13. Ephes. 4. 14. whiles Christ sendeth men to preach the Gospell not with wisedome of words but with the plaine demonstration of the truth and chuseth the foolish things of the world to confound the wise the weake things of the world to confound the mightie and base things of the world and things despised yea and things which are not to bring to nought things that are 1 Cor. 1. 17. 27 28. For the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light Luke 16. 8. Vers. 29. I would kill thee The Prophet is neither dismaied with the speaking of his dumbe beast nor abated from his wrath but increaseth in evill who before hee knew or inquired of the cauâ—e would presently kill the Asse that saved his life A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast but the bowels of the wicked are cruell Prov. 12. 10. If Balaam looked for such good service of the b 〈…〉 beast and would not be mocked or abused thereby he being a reasonable creature and wiser than many should much lesse have mocked with God and resisted his counsell but by his owne words against his Asse he condemneth him-selfe being guiltie of death for his sinne against God as the Angell sheweth in vers 32 33. Vers. 30. ever since I was thine or since thou to wit hast had me the Greeke translateth it from by youth the Chaldee since thou hast beene and the Hebrew phrase sometime so meaneth as in Gen. â—8 15. since I was where the Greeke also expoundeth it from my youth was I ever wont 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I accustoming beene accustomed By this demand the beast convinceth the Prophets foolishnesse who should have gathered that some extraordinary cause moved it thus to doe seeing it had never done so before teacheth us that wheÌ„ the creatures depart from their kinde and customed obedience unto us we should looke for the cause thereof in our selves for our sinnes against God occasion the creatures to rebell against us Levit. 26. 20 21 22. Vers. 31. uncovered the eyes opened them to see the Angell as the Asse did before him vers 23. signifying that as men cannot see the marvellous things of his Law unlesse he uncover their eyes 〈…〉 s. 119. 18. so neither can they behold the deaths and dangers that are to come on them for the transgression of his Law unlesse he reveale them Esay 47. 11. The way of the wicked is as darknes they know not at what they stumble Pro. 4. 19. bowed himselfe downe on his face or to his face as the Greeke translateth hee bowed downe to his face that is worshipped the face or person of the Angell Vers. 32. Wherefore hast thou smitten c. The Angell rebuketh the misesage of his beast which ought not to be smitten without cause how much lesse then might he smite innocent men with the curse of his tongue And God who saveth man and beast Psal. 36. 7. and commanded that the beasts also should rest from their â—oile on the Sabbath day Deut. 5. 14. and defendeth their innocencie against their cruell masters will much more defend the cause of his people against their wrongfull oppressors Exod. 22. 23. thy way is perverse or the way which thou goest is perverse that is thy purpose and intent in going this journey is contrary to my will which I first revealed unto thee vers 12. The Chaldee paraphraseth thus because it is manifest before me that then wouldest goe in away against me The Apostle openeth and applieth it against the Balaamites of his time in these words an heart they have exercised with covetous practises children of the curse which have forsaken the right way and are gone astray following the way of Balaam the sonne of Bosor who loved the wages of unrighteousnesse 2 Pet. 2. 14 15. The Apostle Iude in vers 11. calleth it the errour of Balaam Vers. 33. turned aside before
this time when the sonne is a sonne of thirteene yeares and one day and the daughter is a daughter of twelve yeares and one day although they say we know not to whose name we have vowed their words are established and their vowes are vowes c. And this is the time of vowes spoken of in every place for as much as they are come to the yeares of great or aged persons their vowes are stablished Maimon tom 3. Treat of Vowes chap. 11. sect 1 3 4. Vers. 4. hold his peace at her or keepe silence at it though hee doe not by words appâ—â—v yet by silence hee seemeth to consent therefore her vow standeth firme shall stand that is shall be stable firme and sure as the field which Abraham bought was said to stand when by sale it was made sure Gen. 23. 17. 20. So ones counsell or word is said to stand when it abideth firme Prov. 19. 21. Esay 14. 24. and 40. 8. Ier. 44. 29. Vers. 5. disallow her or disallow nulliâ—â—e it to wit her vow so after the day that he heareth whether it be in the day that she vowed or many daies after that her father heareth of it If she vow and wait many daies and afterward her father or her husband heare of it then hee may breake it in the day that he heâ—reth c. as it is said In the day that he heareth and not in the day that shee voweth onely Maimony in Vowes chap. 12. sect 16. will mercifully forgive her in Greeke will purge or cleanse her her sin in vowing when she was not in her owne power but in her fathers shall be forgiven but she may not performe her vow which by her fathers authoritie is disanulled So for her husband in like fort vers 12. Vers. 6. if having she have a hâ—sband Hebr. if being she be to a man that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at all maried or the utterance of her lips or pronunciation that which she hath pronounced or distinctly uttered to wit by oath as appeaseth by the word Or which distinguisheth it from her vowes and by that which followeth which she hath bound upon her soule that is by oath as in vers 2. and 10. So the pronouncing with the lips is joyned with swearing in Lev. 5. 4 and Chazkuni here saith the pronunciation is not meant but of an oath Vers. 8. he disallow her or disallow it that is signifie his disallowance of her vow or oath The Hebrewes say A man maketh void or establisheth the words of his wife or of his daughter in any language although she know it not for it is not of necessity that the woman should heare the making void or the establishmeÌ„t c. He that maketh void the words of his daughter or of his wife it is necessary that he utter it with his lips and if he make it void in his heart only hee doth not make it void Maim in Vowes chap. 13. sect 1. 7. Vers. 9. put away to wit from her husband as is expressed in Levit. 21. 7. that is divorced shall stand she is to performe her vow and this as the Hebrewes thinke though she be afterward maried As A woman which hath no husband and which is not under her fathers power if she say Loe such flesh be unlawfull to me after thirty daies and she be married within thirty dayes although at the time when the vow beginneth shee be under the power of a husband he cannot make it void because at the time of the vow making she was not under his power And of this it is said in Num. 30. 9. But the vow of a widow and of her that is put away c. Maim in Vowes chap. 13. sect 16. Vers. 10. in her husbands house after that shee is married and in her husbands power But what if shee were betrothed onely and remained yet in her fathers house Of this case the Hebrewes say A maid that is betrothed none can make ther vow void but her father and her husband joyntly together And if the one of them alone doe make it void it is not made void If her espoused husband die she returneth into the power of her father and whatsoever she voweth her father may make void as before her espousals If her father die after that she is betrothed and she make a vow after his death her husband cannot make it void for an husband maketh not the vowes of his wife void untill shee be come into the wedding chamber or married Maim in Vowes chap. 11. sect 9 10. Vers. 11. shall stand shee is to keepe her vow though after her husbands death A young woman whom her father hath given in mariage if she become a widow or be divorced after mariage loe she is as an Orphan whiles her father liveth and her father cannot make her vowes of none effect although she be yet but a young woman Maim ibidem sect 25. Vers. 12. hath utterly made them void or hath any waies made them void Hebr. making void hath made them void so in vers 15. Vers. 13. oath of bond that is binding oath or bond confirmed with an oath to afflict the soule by abstenance fasting c. See the notes on Levit. 16. 29. This seemeth to be added for amplification rather than limitation or restraint howbeit the Hebrewes from hence gather that although the father may disanull all his daughters vowes of what sort soever yet the husband hath not power to disanull the vowes of his wife vnlesse they be of this sort to wit vowes or bonds to afflict the soule c. Sol. Iarchi on Numb 30. and Maimony in Vowes chap. 12. sect 1. may establish it or may make it stand shall confirme it Some understand these words to be a commandement and translate thus Let her husband establish it or let her husband make it void to wit out of hand and let him not deferre it till afterward Vers. 14. altogether hold his peace Hebr. holding his peace shall hold his peace or keepe silence from day to day and doe not disanull it the same day that he heareth it Vers. 15. shall utterly make them void or shall any waies make them of none effect see this phrase in vers 12. shall beare her iniquitie that is shall beare the punishment of her iniquitie God will require her sinne at his hand From hence wee learne saith Sol. Iarchi that he which is a cause of scandall or offence unto his neighbour shall cone in his stead unto all punishments CHAP. XXXI 1 The Israelites are commanded to take vengeance on the Midianites 5 Twelve thousand of the tribes of Israel with Phinehas the Priest are sent to warre 7 They slay all the males and the five kings of Midian and Balaam the sonne of Beor 9 They take the women and children captives and the spoile of their goods and cartell and burne their cities 13 Moses is wroth with the Officers for saving the women alive 19 How the souldiers with